09/12/2025
IWTO 2025 – Maseru, Lesotho 🇱🇸
The Wool Round Table from behind the scenes
We knew from the start that this would be a major technical challenge—one that pushes you to grow and learn—and we were right. With one fewer team member on site, new technologies to integrate (a NAS-based Media Pool and an LED wall with a venue-imposed ratio), and a linguistic and cultural gap that matters far more in technical workflows, the event demanded care.
It was IWTO’s first event in Lesotho: a few doubts beforehand, many certainties afterwards. Once again, Nickland Media handled all technical aspects—pre-event planning and on-site ex*****on—coordinating the Jam Session Sounds team led by Beat Bokang Khoarai. In the first days, we needed to understand the local team’s workflow and timing. The well-known African Tempo is real, but Beat’s tireless proactivity enabled solid results and even solutions to issues beyond our production.
A wired internet connection was essential but proved problematic; fortunately, a Starlink system solved it brilliantly—fast, stable, and reliable even in heavy rain.
We were also very pleased with the NAS-based media pool. Our Synology DS725+ with two 2TB SSDs in parity provided reliability, redundancy, and an efficient workflow, especially for last-minute presentation updates. The SSDs also allowed safe travel on rough roads.
We did face some reliability issues with equipment from the AV service, but we accepted it with a smile as part of the game.
A special thank-you goes to Ben Roberts, who supported us remotely with efficiency and responsiveness, and a broader thanks to the entire technical team and IWTO. It is always a pleasure and an honour to be part of such groups.
Finally, I’d like to close this long technical report with a more human note: for Amanda Millard, this was the last event she experienced in her role as event manager. Amanda wasn’t the person who first brought me into the team, but she was my co-pilot from day one (even before I officially became part of the team). And as true co-pilots do, we shared journeys, difficult moments, problems to solve, last-minute rushes, plenty of laughter, and a few well-deserved celebrations. We said goodbye with a smile—the best and most fitting way to preserve the memory of what has been a wonderful 13-year journey: a tremendous gift, both professionally and personally.